What is Ikigai
According to
Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles' book Ikigai: The Japanese
Secret to a Long and Happy Life, ikigai, which roughly translates to "the
happiness of continuously being occupied," extends beyond one's search for
the purpose of life.
Online
searches for "ikigai" will also reveal that this Japanese idea of
discovering your purpose also refers to "a reason for existence." The
phrase combines the words iki, which means "life," and kai, which is
spoken as gai. It has to do with the thing that a person values most in life,
something that gives them purpose and satisfaction.
A person's
ikigai might be anything, including a passion, a desire, or a goal. It is
something that motivates you to rise and shine each morning. It is what spurs
you on to keep moving forward and provides you the inspiration to take action
in the pursuit of that ikigai. Some people have little trouble identifying
their ikigai. For others, the quest may still be ongoing.
Finding your
happiness and purpose in life may not always seem easy given the society we
live in today and the way we conduct our lives. If you haven't yet discovered
your ikigai, it may be advisable to do so after learning what factors to
consider in order to accurately pinpoint your purpose in life.
Ø Four Elements
of the Ikigai
There are
four items on your list that you must cross off in order to find your ikigai.
You'll be able to direct your search more effectively if you can identify these
four things. Your ikigai needs to read:
1. What you love
You should
choose an enjoyable activity for your ikigai. Any activity that makes you feel
good and that you would undertake voluntarily at any moment can qualify. Your
dopamine levels will rise as a result of it, and you would jump at the chance
to discuss it and spread the word about it to others whenever the opportunity
presents itself. It might be as simple as engaging in a pastime that you truly
enjoy, such as writing, making movies, taking pictures, dancing, painting, or
even collecting stamps.
What is Ikigai and how to find Ikigai
2. What you are good at
Finding out
what you are or would like to be good at might also help you come closer to
discovering your ikigai. Is there anything you're naturally good at? Something
that you are regarded as an expert at or can do with ease? Or perhaps there is
something you want to learn how to do, something you have tried to learn how to
do, or something you have worked incredibly hard to achieve?
You might
have spent years honing a skill like videography, public speaking, fashion
design, marketing, counseling, or computer programming. You can now cross two
tasks off your list to discover your ikigai if you are doing something you
enjoy and are good at.
3. What you can get paid or rewarded for
Knowing what
you can be compensated for might help you identify your ikigai. Keep in mind
that in order to support our requirements and expenses on a daily basis, we
need to make money. So, ideally, your ikigai should be something that can earn
you money. Simply enjoying your work and being skilled at it is insufficient.
It's important that you receive fair payment for it and that it enables you to
put food on the table and clothing on your back.
What is Ikigai and how to find Ikigai
4. What the globe requires
Something
that the entire globe or a particular community needs is the fourth element of
identifying your ikigai. We feel better when we know that what we do improves
the world in which we live. We get the impression that we are contributing
significantly to our neighborhood. Nowadays, a large portion of people
struggles to find fulfillment in their work since they frequently fail to see its
significance. Knowing that your work has the potential to impact other people's
lives will help you locate your ikigai.
Ø Finding Your
Ikigai
Knowing what
it takes to discover your ikigai has given you the knowledge you need to begin
examining these four aspects of your life. It can be much simpler for you to
comprehend what your ikigai is if you know what you love, what you are good at,
what you can get paid for, and what the world needs.
·
Passion
You've found
your passion if it's something you enjoy doing and are good at. Unfortunately,
some people who follow their passion experience happiness and contentment.
However, some of them might think that their work is not having much of an
influence or provide them with any real benefits.
If you find
yourself in a similar scenario, you may want to consider how your enthusiasm
can catch on, attract people's attention, and ultimately alter their life.
Additionally, if you can figure out a means to monetize your love, that will
enable you to complete four of the four requirements for ikigai.
For
instance, if you love gardening and are an expert at growing plants, designing
gardens, and even transforming a desolate area of land into a sanctuary of
greenery, you might want to use that skill to start a small farm that you can
use to make money.
You can
raise a variety of decorative plants and flowers and then sell them to your
neighborhood's residents. You can begin posting images of your plants online,
create an online brand for your small farm, and join communities of gardening
and farming aficionados to expand your market.
Writing a
book, creating a blog, providing training and seminars about your craft, or
serving as a resource for other people who share your interest are all
additional ways you can use your passion to make money and improve your
community.
·
Mission
You are
someone on a mission if you have something you love that the world also needs.
People who are on a mission tend to support the causes they hold dear. They
might also be a humanitarian seeking to make a difference in the world by
participating in volunteer projects or providing free services to those in
need. While knowing that you are changing the world can make you feel
fulfilled, you might not be receiving a fair reward for your efforts.
If this
applies to you, you may be one of those people who hasn't yet discovered how to
hone their art and effectively sell their abilities. Because you need more than
just desire to be regarded as an expert in a particular industry. To support
what you love and believe in, you will also need to have shown expertise and
skills. This may also be the cause of your continued lack of financial success
despite your commitment to your objective.
You might
begin by training in order to discover your ikigai. To excel at what you love,
get a formal degree. Given that it is already making a difference in the
community, all it will take is a little time to hone your skills and eventually
increase your potential to become not only an advocate but also an authority in
your industry.
As you gain
expertise in your profession, you may utilize your newly gained abilities and
knowledge to negotiate pay and begin making a living doing what you love while
also making a difference in the world.
·
Profession
You have a
profession if you're one of the many people who do something well enough to be
compensated for it. You might be making a good living as a professional doing
something you've pretty much perfected. You are typically compensated highly
since people like you are regarded as authorities in your profession.
However,
earning money for what you do well does not necessarily translate into doing
what you love and changing the world. You may need to make some lifestyle
adjustments if you are at a place in your life when you have worked really hard
without feeling fulfilled. You might want to consider how your profession might
assist you to identify what you enjoy doing and learn how it can make a difference
in the world in order to discover your ikigai.
For
instance, if you are a seasoned financial expert with a strong professional
network in your field and a solid reputation, you can use your network to
launch a charity or raise money for the less fortunate. You can also
instruct less privileged people who want to follow in your footsteps as a
well-known expert in your industry by using your understanding of the financial
world to provide free coaching to small businesses or even to do so. In this
manner, you are making a good difference in the lives of others. You may feel
more fulfilled and begin to enjoy what you do as a result of the difference you
are making.
·
Vocation
You have now
discovered your vocation if you have something that the world needs and are paid
for it. Some people who are pursuing careers are occasionally unsatisfied with
what they do. Additionally, not all of them are necessarily highly
knowledgeable or consistently regarded as experts in their fields.
If you
believe that you fall into this category, you'll need to learn how to improve
your skills and make your job something you enjoy. You might begin by perhaps
obtaining a degree or by enrolling in training sessions that will help you hone
your talents if you want to transform your profession into your ikigai.
Additionally, you can seek to advance your professional experience and
ultimately master your field. Your work will ultimately become more enjoyable
once you have made it something you can do extremely well, and you will start
to see it as your newfound ikigai.
What is Ikigai and how to find Ikigai
